Hampton University Museum

10/28/2026

About David Drake

David Drake was born into slavery in the Edgefield district of South Carolina and made an estimated 40,000 jars while being held in bo***ge. Much of David Drake, “Dave the Potter’s” life is undocumented, but we do know that he was able to read and write. He defied anti-literacy laws and risked life and limb, inscribing his name and poems onto vessels that he would never have the right to own. Drake’s inscriptions on his large, expertly crafted jars included not only his name but often poetry or prose.

Plan your visit now for this rare opportunity to view the extraordinary work of Dave the Potter. Tickets are available by going to the link in our bio.

10/23/2026

Rare Storage Jar
David Drake, “Dave the Potter” (ca 1800 – ca. 1870)
1855, Alkaline – glazed stoneware
14 h x 12 dia.
On loan from the Drake Family Foundation

David Drake was born into slavery in the Edgefield district of South Carolina and made an estimated 40,000 jars in bo***ge. Much of David Drake, “Dave the Potter’s” life is undocumented, but we do know that he was able to read and write. He defied anti-literacy laws and risked life and limb, inscribing his name and poems onto vessels that he would never have the right to own. A master potter, Drake’s inscriptions on his large, expertly crafted pots included not only his name but often poetry or prose.

Plan your visit now for this rare opportunity to view the extraordinary work of Dave the Potter. Tickets are available by going to the link in our bio.

10/20/2026

10/13/2026

We have concluded our Signature Field Experience with Hampton City Schools for the year. Over 630 seventh graders were introduced to General Samuel Chapman Armstrong and Hampton University's historical founding. As part of the schools' curriculum on Reconstruction, students viewed 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 and visited the Emancipation Oak. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Hampton City Schools.

09/24/2026

We are in our last week of the 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮: 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘥 exhibition. The last day of the exhibition is Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm with a book signing by Dr. Edda Fields-Black, author of 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘦: 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘞𝘢𝘳. Prior to that date, you can visit the exhibition Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

09/24/2026

Are you interested in art and history? Are you enthusiastic, friendly, and dependable? If so, we want YOU! Apply today to become a Hampton University Museum Volunteer by clicking the link!

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=GKbZd3AG6kyA0UzidBU1J-gLTmI_an1Fq7YArR1umotUQ0ZRNjUySEdTOTIyOFk5TDNSSkFZSTVIQS4u

09/24/2026

Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black’s book, 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘦: 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘞𝘢𝘳 received the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History, among numerous other awards. Dr. Fields-Black will be available to sign copies of her book at Hampton University Museum on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Books will be available for sale at the signing.

RSVP at (757) 727-5308 or [email protected].

09/22/2026

Are you interested in art and history? Are you enthusiastic, friendly, and dependable? If so, we want YOU! Apply today to become a Hampton University Museum Volunteer by clicking the link!

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=GKbZd3AG6kyA0UzidBU1J-gLTmI_an1Fq7YArR1umotUQ0ZRNjUySEdTOTIyOFk5TDNSSkFZSTVIQS4u

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09/18/2026

Plan your visit now to see 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮: 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘥 before it moves on. The last day of the exhibition is Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm with a book signing by Dr. Edda Fields-Black, author of 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘦: 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘞𝘢𝘳. Prior to that date, you can visit the exhibition Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm.